A Zambian proverb says, 'The pain of a wound is best understood by those who have had it before.' This could be why the people of South Africa have been among the most vocal supporters of the Palestinian people's fight against Israel's occupation and brutality. South Africans understand the pain of living under a brutal apartheid regime that has no qualms about killing thousands of civilians to sustain itself. The people of South Africa also understand the pain of being criminalized for resisting oppression, when the so-called 'free world' sides with their oppressor. They remember too well when Western states, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, labelled their most formidable liberation movement, the African National Congress and its leaders, communist terrorists. They recall how their oppressors were cast as victims facing an onslaught by 'murderous savages,' who allegedly wanted to push all white South Africans into the sea.

Continued….When they hear Israel being hailed as the 'most stable democracy in the Middle East,' they are reminded of how Western leaders hailed apartheid South Africa as the 'last bastion of freedom and the last bulwark against communism in Africa.' All this was being said as the apartheid regime was murdering school children in African townships nationwide. That is why supporting the Palestinian people's struggle against a brutal occupation comes naturally to most South Africans. They do not need anyone to lecture them on what oppression is. Indeed, they lived it for centuries.

Let us know in the comments what you think of South Africans' solidarity with Palestine.

Cartoon by: Latuff Cartoons

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ETHIOPIAN JEWS STERILISED IN ISRAEL

Aside from Palestinians, Ethiopian Jews have faced their own form of ethnic cleansing in the Zionist state. For decades, Israel hustled to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel. However, since they arrived in the country, they have suffered rampant racism and have frequently complained of being treated like second-class citizens. Then, from 2003 to 2013, the community experienced a 50 per cent decline in its birthrate. Israel admitted in 2013 that it had been injecting Ethiopian Jewish women—without their knowledge—with the contraceptive drug Depo-Provera, which can prevent pregnancy for months at a time.

Watch @leadingleah break it down and let us know what you think in the comments.

🎥by @leadingleah (Tik Tok)

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A deadly blast that ripped through Al-Ahli Arab Hospital killing about 500 people is the bloodiest single incident in besieged Gaza since Israel launched an unrelenting bombing campaign in retaliation for a surprise cross-border Hamas assault in southern Israel.

Located in central Gaza, the hospital was struck while packed with thousands of Palestinians seeking not just medical attention but shelter from the brutal bombardments of Israeli occupation forces.

Condemnations of the shocking massacre from across the world have been pouring in. Here, Djibouti Health Minister, Dr. Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal who is perpetrating the genocide of the Palestinian people. Under international humanitarian law, attacking hospitals treating sick and wounded is strictly prohibited under Article 27 of the 1899 Hague Regulations.

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Continued…Angry demonstrations have erupted not just in the Middle East but across the world, calling for an end of atrocities against Israel's assault of Gaza. Jordan has cancelled a planned summit in the capital of Amman with United States President Joe Biden and Arab leaders.

Israel's military denied responsibility for the bombing, saying intelligence suggested the hospital was hit by a failed rocket launch by the enclave's Palestinian Islamic Jihad military group. The PIJ rejects the allegation. Whatever ensues, a day of judgment looms for Netanyahu.

Last week, Israeli officials ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel, meaning hospitals risk losing not just mains power but also diesel supplies needed for backup generators.

Continued…Days later, the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for all 1.1 million people north of the Gaza River including Gaza City, demanding they flee south. The World Health Organisation called the order to evacuate hospitals a death sentence for thousands of patients.

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SALAH SLAMMED OVER ISRAEL SILENCE

Egypt and Liverpool star Mo Salah has donated funds to the people of Gaza through the Red Crescent. But despite offering an undisclosed amount, the footballer faces criticism for not publicly speaking out over Israel’s bombing of Palestinians.

In contrast, his Egyptian teammate and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny changed his Facebook profile to show a Palestinian flag. And Tunisian tennis ace Ons Jabeur posted a pro-Palestinian message on Instagram. But is it fair Mo endures a backlash?

He got similar criticism in 2021 during another surge in Israel-Palestine hostilities. Back then, he urged world leaders to ‘do everything in their power to make sure the violence and killing of innocent people stops immediately. Enough is enough’. However, he stopped short of blaming Tel Aviv, and that angered many.

Continued…Is he right to stay out of it and just offer financial help to victims of an Israeli occupation that’s already killed thousands and displaced millions? Surely he should be applauded for any act of compassion?

Then again, with over 62 million followers on Instagram, should he be more vocal?

As usual, the comments page is ready.

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PALESTINE ENVOY: 'ISRAEL IS LYING'

“HE’S A LIAR” - that’s how Palestine’s envoy to the UN describes Israel’s leader Benjamin Netanyahu. In a feisty exchange with reporters Riyad Mansour accused Tel Aviv of lying over a missile strike that hit a Gaza hospital killing more than 500. He revealed an Israeli spokesperson tweeted ‘Israel did the hit’ in pursuit of Hamas but then deleted the message. A short time later, Tel Aviv alleged the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital was struck by a rocket misfired by militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which denies the accusation. The only evidence is an alleged recording of Hamas fighters discussing the aftermath. Netanyahu has faced worldwide condemnation over the bombing, including from the African Union, even though his Western allies want an investigation before casting blame. However, in the minds of many, there’s no doubt as to what happened. Listen to the Palestinian envoy lay into a reporter who claimed the PIJ was responsible, according to Israeli intelligence.

WATCH: ISRAELI COP THREATENS JOURNO ON AIR

Al-Araby TV correspondent Ahmad Darwasha was threatened by an Israeli security officer while live on air. The latter yells at the journalist that he‘d better be saying good things about Israel because the Israeli police are monitoring the media. A bit later, he shouts, “Detestable! We’ll turn Gaza to Dust! Dust!”

This incident has drawn online criticism over the intimidation of journalists who are covering the war on Gaza.

The conflict is also putting media workers’ lives in danger. According to the Centre for Protecting Journalists, as of October 17th, at least 17 journalists have reportedly been killed in the hostilities - 13 Palestinian, 3 Israeli and 1 Lebanese.

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ISRAEL AMBASSADOR DENIES GAZA CRISIS

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, personifies the meaning of burying one's head in the sand. On a Sky News television interview on 16 October, the day before the Israeli bombardment of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in besieged Gaza that killed about 500 people, Hotovely said there is "no humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza Strip.

The ambassador ignored that Israeli occupation forces cut off supplies of water, food and fuel, meaning hospitals would lose normal sources of power as well as diesel supplies needed for backup generators.

The living are sheltering from bombardments that are raining down on Gaza, and they are sleeping between beds filled with patients, while the dead are overflowing in morgues in the few hospitals that haven't fallen to the Israeli onslaught.

Continued….A Russia-sponsored UN resolution for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was rejected following a vote, which saw African states Gabon and Mozambique vote in favor of the Moscow-drafted resolution. Another African state, Ghana, was one of six countries that abstained. Plus, it's no surprise that imperialist nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan shot it down.

When the interviewer asked if the ambassador had seen the pictures coming out of Gaza that prove it's a humanitarian crisis, she said "Blame Hamas." The ambassador's remarks sparked condemnation across social media. The UN and other international bodies had warned that Israel's forced evacuation of Palestinians from north to south, as well as cutting off water and electricity, has pushed the besieged strip into a humanitarian crisis. This adds to the already devastating impacts of Israel's air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip since 2007. Last week, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett erupted at a Sky News interviewer for daring to ask him about the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.

At least 3,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian health ministry says. That includes over 1,000 children, with an additional 12,500 Palestinians confirmed injured. Give it a watch and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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PIERS MORGAN: 'ISRAEL IS ENTITLED'

Egyptian YouTuber Mohammed Hijab challenges British TV host Piers Morgan on Israeli military killing Palestinian children. During the 16 October interview on "Piers Morgan Uncensored," the host refused to condemn the bombing of children in Gaza and said Israel is ennoscriptd to defend itself with force. According to the latest report by authorities in Gaza, more than 1000 Palestinian children have been killed and over 3000 children wounded in the latest armed conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Let us know what you think of Morgan's remarks.

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GAZA DOCTOR: BRUTALITY OF LOST AGES!

The Israeli military attack on 17 October on a Gaza City hospital shocked the world and sparked anxieties regarding the geopolitical and regional consequences for such brutality.

At the Gaza Ministry of Health's press conference, a doctor who spoke was surrounded by corpses, many of them children's.

According to Gaza Deputy Health Minister Dr Youssef Abu Al-Rish, Israel only would have done this with the permission of what he implies is the United States. He added that tragedies like what occurred at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital haven't been witnessed in the modern era.

Let us know in the comments if the doctor's remarks resonate with you.

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ISRAEL DENIES HOSPITAL ATTACK BUT NO-ONE BELIEVES THEM!

A deadly Israeli air attack on a civilian hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, 17 October, has sparked global outrage. More than 500 people were killed, many of them women and children. The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in central Gaza City had also become a shelter for civilians fleeing relentless attacks. Medical staff say the death toll is set to rise, with many bodies still unidentified. Fallout from the horrific attack includes Jordan cancelling a planned summit with US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Meanwhile, tonnes of desperately needed humanitarian aid are stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, the only entry point into Gaza that Israel does not control. On Monday, the UN Security Council vetoed a Russian-drafted resolution calling for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of aid and to halt the violence, at least temporarily.

Continued….African member states, such as Gabon and Mozambique, voted in favor, while Ghana abstained. Israel’s unrestrained violence got a boost Wednesday when Biden, who visited Israel, reiterated the allegation that a misfired rocket by Hamas was responsible for the carnage. However, a tweet from an Israeli spokesman taking credit for the hit on ‘terrorists’ inside the hospital was deleted after the magnitude of the massacre on civilians became clear. According to the Geneva Conventions, targeting of hospitals, the sick, wounded, and medical staff constitutes a war crime. Join this global conversation and share your thoughts on the unfolding tragedy in the Middle East that has implications for Africa.

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EGYPTIAN TV ANCHORS BREAKS DOWN

Muhammad Abdullah, a presenter for Al-Ghad, an Egyptian TV channel, broke down on air on 16 October as he covered the Palestine-Israel conflict. Since the most recent escalation that began on 7 October, over 1 million Palestinians have been displaced, and more than 3,000 Palestinians have been killed, with children accounting for more than 1,000 deaths. Millions worldwide echo the presenter's pain, as the world focuses on what comes next for this humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

Let us know in the comments what you think of the TV host's reaction.

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UK COPS TASER SCHOOLBOY

A video has emerged showing UK cops choke-holding and tasering a Black schoolboy, sparking a social media outcry. West Midlands Police said officers were called to a property this week after a dispute between neighbours. In this footage you can see a 14-year-old being restrained and then tasered after breaking free. His mum yells at the cops to stop because her son has asthma. An officer is heard saying ‘I don’t care’ and tells people to ‘stay back’. In typical fashion the young boy was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Video of the incident has been viewed thousands of times online and has prompted a backlash. There’s long been concern over police treatment of Blacks in Britain.

Continued….UK government statistics show Blacks are nine times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than Whites. They are also seven times more likely to die than Whites following restraint by officers. This latest incident will be reviewed by Britain's Office for Police Conduct.

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EGYPTIAN COMEDIAN: 'ISRAEL IS GASLIGHTER IN CHIEF'

Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef has given British TV personality Piers Morgan his views on Israel - claiming that Tel Aviv massively overplays the victim card.

After decades of Israel killing Palestinians, Hamas pushed back on 7 October. Israel, as usual, saw this as an excuse to escalate the genocide. Its response has been brutal - inflicting thousands of civilian deaths and a humanitarian disaster on Gaza. Youssef thinks it’s a bit rich calling yourself the victim when you rain bombs down on your ‘oppressor’ all day.

The noscript is familiar to Africans. Kenya’s population was brutally punished after Mau Mau rebels fighting the British occupation targeted settlers. Thousands of Kikuyu were herded into concentration camps and subjected to hard labour, torture, rape and even murder. Some historians argue the British were trying to eliminate the Kikuyu.

Watch Youssef make his point, and let us know if you agree with him.

OCCUPIER'S MINDSET

An old argument that used to be rolled out to justify colonialism and occupation in Africa is still being used by Israeli settlers. In this video from a couple of years back, an Israeli settler is confronted by a Palestinian woman whose house he stole. When she takes him to task about this, he responds by saying that if he hadn’t stolen it, someone else would have.

It’s a pretty pathetic ‘justification’ but one that used to be frequently heard. The same mentality was exhibited by the British, the Dutch, the French, the Portuguese and others as they ran rampage across Africa, grabbing and occupying territories in (what are now) Algeria, Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and elsewhere. They ‘excused’ their actions by claiming that if they didn’t occupy these places, other European powers would.